Pentax
K-5
 vs
Sony
NEX-7

Updated (March, 2013): Compare the Pentax K-5 II vs Sony NEX-7n

Pentax K-5

60

  
Sony NEX-7

55

  
Winner

Pentax K-5

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
 
Runner-up

Sony NEX-7

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-7

Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
 

differences

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 740 shots vs 430 shots
Help
 More than 70% more shots per battery charge
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 90 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 11.5x more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 600 ms vs 1200 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 223 ms
Help
 2.1x less delay when taking photos
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO vs 1,016 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 13.4 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $691.90 vs $948.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $256 cheaper (around 30% less)
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5

Advantages of the Sony NEX-7
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 130x96x72 mm
Help
 3.7x smaller
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Weight Significantly lighter 350 g vs 740 g
Help
 2.1x lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 50% thinner
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The NEX-7's maximum light sensitivity is 0.3 f-stops better
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Sony NEX-7 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-7
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
60 vs 55
Explain scores
Sony NEX-7 Sony NEX-7
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-5. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
K-5:82.0
NEX-7:81.0
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Sensor size Large sensors Help
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
NEX-7:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
K-5:16.1 MP
NEX-7:24 MP
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
K-5:14.1 EV
NEX-7:13.4 EV
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Color depth Good color depth Help
K-5:23.7 bits
NEX-7:24.1 bits
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
K-5:12,800 ISO
NEX-7:16,000 ISO
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
K-5:Pentaprism
NEX-7:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
K-5:1/8000s
NEX-7:1/4000s

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Compare the D7000 vs the NEX-7
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
Compare the D7100 vs the NEX-7
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Compare the EOS 60D vs the NEX-7
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Compare the EOS 7D vs the NEX-7
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,114 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the K-5
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the NEX-7
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-7
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$998 - $1,000 body only

$1,598 - $1,930 with 16-50mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the SLT A77 vs the K-5
Compare the SLT A77 vs the NEX-7

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$498 - $690 body only

$557 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Weight Lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the K-30 vs the K-5
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$767 - $997 body only

$1,113 - $1,547 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5

Sony NEX-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Many more focus points
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-7
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the NEX-5N vs the NEX-7
Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,000 body only

$1,399 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the X-E1 vs the NEX-7
Samsung NX300

Samsung NX300

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 - $749 with 20-50mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the NX300 vs the NEX-7
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Weight Lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-7

appearance

Pentax K-5 Sony NEX-7
Pentax K-5 Sony NEX-7
Pentax K-5 Sony NEX-7

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